Chairman - Anna Witarzewska

RAINBOW, the Association of Parents and Friends of Blind and Partially Sighted Children, is a non-profit organization founded by parents of blind and partially-sighted children in May 1990, after the systematic transformation in Poland. In 2015 the Association will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Since 2005 Rainbow has had the status of a non government organization.

The mission of the Association is professional support and comprehensive assistance to blind and partially-sighted children and adults and also those suffering from associated disabilities.We accompany our patients from the diagnosis of a disability to their achieving maximum self reliance and independence, which often means for the rest of their lives. An equally important area of our activity is providing information and psychological and social help to the families of the disabled.

Key achievements of our organization.

Non –stop operation for 23 years in Warsaw of 3 centers for children and adults with eyesight disfunctions and associated disabilities.

Early diagnosis of eyesight problems in children – annually 1,500 little patients benefit from our help.

Providing daily professional care and support to 220 patients:

120 children ( aged 0-6 years) and their families in the Centre of Early Intervention

16 children ( blind and partially sighted) in a special needs kindergarten

51 school-aged children in a day educational and rehabilitation center

33 adults in a day educational and rehabilitation center.

4.Creating a scheme of instant and complex diagnosis and immediate assistance to infants with eyesight impairment at an early stage. At the same time providing psychological support to the families, also in their home environment – such assistance covers 50 young children and their families.

The early intervention center assists children from Warsaw and its surroundings as well as from north- east Poland, where there is an acute lack of such facilities and specialists. We support further education of pre-school children as well as educating their home environment and the staff of care and educational institutions

5. Organising specialist education and rehabilitation for multihandicapped children – 100% of our charges are kids with coexisting visual, mobile and intellectual disabilities.

In our centers the staff combine specialist education ( supported by various therapies) with day-to-day medical rehabilitation and professional medical services ( we run medical rehabilitation and a private medical center, as in Warsaw and its region there are no professional facilities of this type, treating blind children with additional disabilities.

6.Rainbow specializes in early diagnosis of eyesight impairments in babies, eyesight problems and visual therapy. We are an only institution in Poland which practices unique diagnostic methods pioneered by a Finnish eye specialist, Professor Lei Hyvarinen.

Running courses for blind children therapists from all over Poland is also included in our mission.

We have built a program of assistance for children with eyesight and additional neurological impairments, from infancy to adulthood. Patients past their school age as well as their carers can count on our professional support with no age limits.

Rainbow has collaborated with other organizations in proposing legislative changes and new solutions for the disabled . Those are Warsaw local government, Polish government ( Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, the Spokesperson for Children’s Rights) and Polish Parliament.

For 23 years Rainbow has helped eye cancer children with obtaining medical treatment abroad as well as supporting the families of young retinoblastoma patients.

Most urgent needs of our patients and their families

1.Eye diagnostic equipment.

2. Rebuilding and adjusting a space for sensoric integration therapy.

3. Modernisation of the Children’s Center – including additional doctor rooms and a wating room for patients.

Construction of a sensoric garden alongside the Children’s Center.

Running on a regular basis of educational and advisory services for families, as well as other forms of assistance such as workshops or support groups